Solar panel systems

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the disclosure are generally related to solar panel configurations. In some embodiments, the active surface area of the solar panel is increased compared to traditional flat solar cell arrays. The increase in active surface area may increase solar panel efficiency. For example, in some embodiments, a single light ray may have portions reflected onto a plurality of solar cell surfaces to provide further opportunities for light capture and conversion to electricity.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/371,953, filed Apr. 1, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S.Pat. No. 10,283,659, filed Nov. 16, 2016, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Solar power is the Holy Grail of clean energy. Harnessing the power ofthe sun dates back to ancient times when mirrors and lenses were used tostart fires. The idea that the sun provides a continuous source of cleanenergy is widely accepted in theory. But the limited efficiency ofphotovoltaic cells has limited the application of solar energy in thereal world.

Accordingly, systems and methods for improving the efficiency of solarpower may be desired.

SUMMARY

Efforts to improve the efficiency of solar power focus around severaltechniques. These include improving the efficiency of the photovoltaiccells themselves. Some designs split and direct light wavelengthstowards specific photovoltaic cells. Other systems may use lenses tofocus the incoming light onto photovoltaic cells. Additionally, dynamicsystems may use motors to turn and move the solar panels to ensure theyare always facing the sun.

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to solarcell configurations and arrays thereof, each of which may be used inconjunction with any of the above techniques for improving solar powerefficiency.

In some embodiments, a solar panel may be provided that includes: asolar cell pit comprising a first solar cell forming a first pit side ofthe solar cell pit, a second solar cell forming a second pit side of thesolar cell pit, and a third solar cell forming a third pit side of thesolar cell pit—each of the first solar cell, the second solar cell, andthe third solar cell may be configured to convert solar energy toelectricity. The first solar cell may comprise a first edge and a secondedge that converge at a ninety degree angle to form a corner of thefirst pit side; the second solar cell may comprise a first edge and asecond edge that converge at a ninety degree angle to form a corner ofthe second pit side; and the third solar cell may comprise a first edgeand a second edge that converge at a ninety degree angle to form acorner of the third pit side. The corner of the first pit side, thecorner of the second pit side, and the corner of the third pit side maybe joined together such that the first edge of the first solar cell isadjacent to the second edge of the second solar cell, the first edge ofthe second solar cell is adjacent to the second edge of the third solarcell, the first edge of the third solar cell is adjacent to the secondedge of the first solar cell, and such that the first solar cell, thesecond solar cell, and the third solar cell are orthogonal to oneanother. A light ray received by the solar cell pit that impinges on thefirst solar cell may be partially captured by the first solar cell to beconverted to electricity and partially reflected by the first solar celltoward the second solar cell. Light reflected by the first solar celltoward the second solar cell may be partially captured by the secondsolar cell to be converted to electricity and partially reflected by thesecond solar cell toward the third solar cell and light reflected by thesecond solar cell toward the third solar cell may be at least partiallycaptured by the third solar cell to be converted to electricity.

The solar panel described above may include a plurality of the solarcell pits arranged in an array. In some embodiments, the first solarcell, the second solar cell, and the third solar cell may have arectangular configuration. In some embodiments, the first solar cell,the second solar cell, and the third solar cell may have a triangularconfiguration.

In still further embodiments, a system may be provided that includesthree of the solar panels described above. In some embodiments, thethree solar panels may each having a rectangular configuration and maybe joined together such that each of the three solar panels arc at90-110 degrees relative to one another. And in some embodiments, thesolar panels may be orthogonal to one another.

In still further embodiments, another system may be provided thatincludes three of the solar panels described above. The three solarpanels may each have a triangular configuration and may be joinedtogether such that each of the three solar panels are at 90-110 degreesrelative to one another. And in some embodiments, the solar panels maybe orthogonal to one another.

In further embodiments, a solar panel may be provided that includes: asolar cell pit comprising a first solar cell forming a first triangularpit side of the solar cell pit, a second solar cell forming a secondtriangular pit side of the solar cell pit, and a third solar cellforming a third triangular pit side of the solar cell pit—each of thefirst solar cell, the second solar cell, and the third solar cellconfigured to convert solar energy to electricity. The first solar cellmay comprise a first edge and a second edge that converge at a 90-110degree angle to form a corner of the first pit side; the second solarcell may comprise a first edge and a second edge that converge at a90-110 degree angle to form a corner of the second pit side; and thethird solar cell may comprise a first edge and a second edge thatconverge at a 90-110 degree angle to form a corner of the third pitside.

The corner of the first triangular pit side, the corner of the secondtriangular pit side, and the corner of the third triangular pit side maybe joined together such that the first edge of the first solar cell isadjacent to the second edge of the second solar cell, the first edge ofthe second solar cell is adjacent to the second edge of the third solarcell, and the first edge of the third solar cell is adjacent to thesecond edge of the first solar cell.

At least some light rays received by the solar cell pit that impinge onthe first solar cell may be partially captured by the first solar cellto be converted to electricity and partially reflected by the firstsolar cell toward the second solar cell. At least some light reflectedby the first solar cell toward the second solar cell may be partiallycaptured by the second solar cell to be converted to electricity andpartially reflected by the second solar cell toward the third solarcell. And light reflected by the second solar cell toward the thirdsolar cell may be at least partially captured by the third solar cell tobe converted to electricity.

In some embodiments, a plurality of the solar cell pits may be providedthat are arranged in an array.

In some embodiments, a solar panel system may be provided that includesthree solar panels described above, the three solar panels may be joinedtogether such that each of the three solar panels are at 90-110 degreesrelative to one another. Optionally, the three solar panels may beorthogonal to one another.

In still further embodiments, a solar panel may be provided thatincludes a tessellated array of solar cell pits. Each of the solar cellpits of the array may include a first solar cell forming a first pitside of the solar cell pit, a second solar cell forming a second pitside of the solar cell pit, and a third solar cell forming a third pitside of the solar cell pit. Each of the first solar cell, the secondsolar cell, and the third solar cell may be configured to convert solarenergy to electricity and each may comprise a first edge and a secondedge that converge at a ninety degree angle to form a corner. Thecorners of the pit sides of the solar cell pit may be joined togethersuch that the corners of the pit sides form a bottom of the solar cellpit and such that the pit sides are at an angle between 60-110 degreeswith adjacent pit sides. The first solar cell, the second solar cell,and the third solar cell may comprise a triangular configuration or arectangular configuration.

At least some light rays received by the solar cell pit that impinges onthe first solar cell may be partially captured by the first solar cellto be converted to electricity and partially reflected by the firstsolar cell toward the second solar cell. At least some light reflectedby the first solar cell toward the second solar cell may be partiallycaptured by the second solar cell to be converted to electricity andpartially reflected by the second solar cell toward the third solarcell. Light reflected by the second solar cell toward the third solarcell may be at least partially captured by the third solar cell to beconverted to electricity.

In some embodiments, the pit sides are at an angle between 90-110degrees with adjacent pit sides. Optionally, the pit sides areorthogonal with adjacent pit sides.

In some embodiments, a solar panel system may be provided that includesthree solar panels described above, the three solar panels may be joinedtogether such that each of the three solar panels are at 60-110 degreeswith adjacent solar panels. Optionally, the three solar panels are at90-110 degrees with adjacent solar panels. In some embodiments, thethree solar panels arc orthogonal to one another.

In some embodiments, the three solar panels may have a rectangularconfiguration. In other embodiments, the three solar panels may have atriangular configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary solar cell pit configuration accordingto some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary array of the solar cell pitconfiguration of FIG.

FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary solar cell pit configurationaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary array of the solar cell pitconfiguration of FIG. 3 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The basis of the design proposed in this patent is arranging the solarpanels and photovoltaic cells in a layout that better captures theinitial incoming light and the subsequently reflected light. Theproposed layout may add depth to the traditional panels that have allthe photovoltaic cells laid flat next to one another forming large flatpanels. For example, in some embodiments, instead of arranging thephotovoltaic cells in a flat planar array, embodiments of the presentdisclosure may include a layout where cells are arranged to form solarcell pits with openings, thereby increasing the solar cell surface areaof the solar panel. Optionally, a plurality of these pits may betessellated next to one another to the size and shape of the desiredpanel. In some embodiments, each of the plurality pits may have aretroreflector configuration.

In some embodiments, solar cell pits may be made up of three pit sidesthat are orthogonal to one another. Optionally, each pit side may beplanar. Each pit side may have two edges that form a corner of the pitside. In some embodiments, the edges may meet at a ninety degree angleto form the corner. Each of the ninety degree corners of the three pitsides may be joined such that each pit side is orthogonal to one anotherto form the bottom of the solar cell pit. In some embodiments, the threepit sides may form a pit with a corner cube configuration.

This arrangement of pit sides may increase the light energy capturedfrom light entering each of the solar cell pits. While some light energyis captured at initial contact with one of the pit sides, a portion ofthe light energy may be reflected from the pit side initially contacted.When the light ray is non-normal to the pit side, this reflected lightmay be directed to an adjacent pit side where additional light energymay be captured. Any portion of light reflected from the adjacent pitside will impinge on the final pit side where another opportunity arisesto capture light. Accordingly, the configuration may increase lightcapture of light energy that is reflected from one or more of the pitsides.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary solar cell pit configuration 10according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Solar cell pit10 may include a first pit side 100, a second pit side 102, and a thirdpit side 103. The first pit side 100, the second pit side 102, and thethird pit side 103 may have a ninety degree corner and each of the sides100, 102, 103 may be joined such that the sides 100, 102, 103 areorthogonal to one another. FIG. 1 also illustrates an exemplary lightray 104 a. Light ray 104 a initially impinges on pit side 102. A portionof light ray 104 a may be captured by pit side 102 and converted toenergy and a remainder portion 104 b may be reflected from the surfaceof pit side 102. Light ray 104 b may be reflected toward pit side 100where a portion of light ray 104 b may be captured by pit side 100 andconverted to energy and a remainder portion 104 c may be reflected fromthe surface of pit side 100. Light ray 104 c may be reflected toward thethird pit side 103 where a portion of light ray 104 c may be captured bypit side 103.

As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the solar cell pits may bearranged in an array to form a solar panel. Optionally, the solar cellpits may be tessellated to form the solar panel. For example, FIG. 2illustrates an exemplary array 110 of the solar cell pit configuration10 of FIG. 1 to form an exemplary solar panel according to someembodiments of the disclosure.

While the pit sides 100, 102, 103 are illustrated as having arectangular or square configuration, it should be understood that otherconfigurations are possible. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates anotherexemplary solar cell pit configuration 20 according to some embodimentsof the present disclosure. Solar cell pit 20 may include a first pitside 200, a second pit side 202, and a third pit side 203. The first pitside 200, the second pit side 202, and the third pit side 203 may have atriangular configuration. In some embodiments, the pit sides 200, 202,203 may have an isosceles configuration with a ninety degree vertexangle. The sides 200, 202, 203 may be joined at the ninety degree cornerand each of the sides 200, 202, 203 may be joined such that the sides200, 202, 203 are orthogonal to one another. In such an embodiment, thesolar cell pit 20 may define a triangular opening to the pit 20. Similarto pit 10 of FIG. 1 , pit configuration 20 of FIG. 3 may be provided inan array to form a solar panel according to some embodiments. Forexample, FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary array 210 of the solar cell pitconfiguration 20 of FIG. 3 . As illustrated the solar panel 210comprises a plurality of solar cell pits 20 that are tessellated.

While the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 illustratesolar cell pits that are in a retroreflective configuration, it shouldbe understood that other configurations are possible where the threepanels are not orthogonal to one another. In some embodiments, the pitsides may be joined together at corners, where the corners of each ofthe pit sides is less than or greater than ninety degrees. For example,in some embodiments, the corners of the pit sides where the pit sidesare joined may be between 80-120 degrees, preferably between 90-120degrees. Additionally, while the exemplary embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 1-4 illustrate solar cell pits that comprise three sides, otherembodiments may have three or more sides, e.g., four, five, six or more.

In some embodiments, the configurations described above could compoundon itself, e.g., by arranging the photovoltaic cells in the same pitdesign on the sides of larger pits. This can continue ad infinitum. Forexample, three solar panels (e.g., panel 110, panel 210), each of whichinclude a plurality of pits, may be arranged orthogonal to one another.The three solar panels may have a rectangular or triangularconfiguration.

The surface area of the proposed pitted design may increase the surfacearea over the typical flat design. For example, the embodimentsillustrated in FIG. 4 may have approximately 73.2% more surface areacompared to that of a traditional flat solar panel. This increase incost and manufacturing may be offset by the increase in overallefficiency of the panel utilizing the pit configuration.

In some embodiments, the configurations and/or arrays may increase solarpower efficiency, even without the use of motors. Advantageously, thesestatic systems may reduce manufacturing, installation, and maintenancecosts as these systems may be free from moving components. While thismay be desirable in certain circumstances, the configurations and/orarrays described herein may also be used to improve the efficacy ofsolar panels that continuously move to keep facing the sun.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A solar panel comprising: a pit comprisinga first pit side of the pit, a second pit side of the pit, and a thirdpit side of the pit, wherein the first pit side, the second pit side,and the third pit side comprise a triangular configuration, and each ofthe first pit side, the second pit side, and the third pit side areconfigured to convert solar energy to electricity; wherein a firstcorner of the first pit side, a second corner of the second pit side,and a third corner of the third pit side are joined together such that afirst edge is shared between the first pit side and the second pit side,a second edge is shared between the second pit side and the third pitside, and a third edge is shared between the third pit side and thefirst pit side, the first edge and the third edge converging to form thefirst corner of the first pit side, the first edge and the second edgeconverging to form the second corner of the second pit side, and thesecond edge and the third edge converging to form the third corner ofthe third pit side; wherein light received by the pit that impinges onthe first pit side is partially captured by the first pit side to beconverted to electricity and partially reflected by the first pit sidetoward the second pit side; wherein light reflected by the first pitside toward the second pit side is partially captured by the second pitside to be converted to electricity and partially reflected by thesecond pit side toward the third pit side; and wherein light reflectedby the second pit side toward the third pit side is at least partiallycaptured by the third pit side to be converted to electricity.
 2. Thesolar panel of claim 1, comprising a plurality of the pits arranged inan array.
 3. The solar panel of claim 2, wherein the plurality of pitsare arranged in a tessellated array.
 4. The solar panel of claim 1,wherein the first pit side, the second pit side, and the third pit sideare not orthogonal to one another.
 5. The solar panel of claim 1,wherein the first edge and the third edge of the first pit side convergeat a 80-120 degree angle to form the first corner of the first pit side,wherein the first edge and the second edge of the second pit sideconverge at a 80-120 degree angle to form the second corner of thesecond pit side, and wherein the second edge and the third edge of thethird pit side converge at a 80-120 degree angle to form the thirdcorner of the third pit side.
 6. A solar panel system comprising aplurality of solar panels of claim 1, the plurality of solar panels eachhaving a triangular configuration and joined together at an angle withone another.
 7. The solar panel system of claim 6, wherein the pluralityof solar panels comprises three solar panels, and wherein the threesolar panels are joined such that each of the three solar panels areorthogonal to one another.
 8. A solar panel comprising: a recessed pitcomprising a first triangular pit side of the pit, a second triangularpit side of the pit, and a third triangular pit side of the pit, each ofthe first triangular pit side, the second triangular pit side, and thethird triangular pit side configured to convert solar energy toelectricity; the first solar cell, the second solar cell, and the thirdsolar cell defining a four-sided opening of the recessed solar cell pit;wherein a first corner of the first triangular pit side, a second cornerof the second triangular pit side, and a third corner of the thirdtriangular pit side are joined together such that a first edge is sharedbetween the first triangular pit side and the second triangular pitside, and a second edge is shared between the second triangular pit sideand the third triangular pit side, the first edge and second edgeconverging to form the second corner of the second triangular pit side;wherein at least some light received by the pit through the four-sidedopening of the pit that impinge on the first triangular pit side ispartially captured by the first triangular pit side to be converted toelectricity and partially reflected by the first triangular pit sidetoward the second triangular pit side; wherein at least some lightreflected by the first triangular pit side toward the second triangularpit side is partially captured by the second triangular pit side to beconverted to electricity and partially reflected by the secondtriangular pit side toward the third triangular pit side; and whereinlight reflected by the second triangular pit side toward the thirdtriangular pit side is at least partially captured by the thirdtriangular pit side to be converted to electricity.
 9. The solar panelof claim 8, comprising a plurality of the pits arranged in an array. 10.A solar panel system comprising a plurality of solar panels of claim 8,the plurality of solar panels joined such that each of the solar panelsare at 90-110 degrees relative to one another.
 11. The solar panelsystem of claim 10, wherein the plurality of solar panels comprisesthree solar panels, and wherein the three solar panels are notorthogonal to one another.
 12. A solar panel comprising: a tessellatedarray of pits, each of the pits of the tessellated array comprising: afirst pit side of the pit, a second pit side of the pit, and a third pitside of the pit, each of the first pit side, the second pit side, andthe third pit side configured to convert solar energy to electricity andeach comprising a first edge and a second edge that converge at a ninetydegree angle to form a corner, wherein the corners of the pit sides ofthe pit are joined together such that the corners of the pit sides forma bottom of the pit and such that the pit sides are at an angle between60-110 degrees with adjacent pit sides, and the first pit side, thesecond pit side, and the third pit side defining a three or more sidedopening of the pit; wherein at least some light received by the pitthrough the three or more sided opening of the pit that impinges on thefirst pit side is partially captured by the first pit side to beconverted to electricity and partially reflected by the first pit sidetoward the second pit side; wherein at least some light reflected by thefirst pit side toward the second pit side is partially captured by thesecond pit side to be converted to electricity and partially reflectedby the second pit side toward the third pit side; and wherein lightreflected by the second pit side toward the third pit side is at leastpartially captured by the third pit side to be converted to electricity.13. The solar panel system of claim 12, wherein the pit sides are at anangle between 90-110 degrees with adjacent pit sides.
 14. The solarpanel system of claim 13, wherein the pit sides are orthogonal withadjacent pit sides.
 15. The solar panel system of claim 12, wherein thepit sides are not orthogonal with adjacent pit sides.
 16. The solarpanel system of claim 12, wherein the first pit side, the second pitside, and the third pit side define a five-sided opening of the pit. 17.A solar panel system comprising a plurality of the solar panels of claim12, the plurality of the solar panels joined together at a 60-110 degreeangle.
 18. The solar panel system of claim 17, wherein the plurality ofsolar panels comprises three solar panels and wherein the three solarpanels are at 90-110 degrees with adjacent solar panels.
 19. The solarpanel system of claim 18, wherein the three solar panels are orthogonalto one another.
 20. The solar panel system of claim 17, wherein each ofthe solar panels of the plurality of solar panels has a triangularconfiguration.